My Favorite Southern California Engagement Locations

I’m so excited to share with you my favorite Southern California engagement locations! Your wedding day photos are important, but so are your engagement photos! You can use your engagement photos for save the dates, or even to display at your wedding. That’s why I love working with my couples to make sure they’re engagement sessions comes out as perfect as possible!

Joshua Tree 

First of all, Joshua Tree is iconic and I may be a bit obsessed (okay, a lot!). The warm, golden sunsets at Joshua Tree never cease to amaze me! Between the sunset and the desert, you have the perfect backdrop for an engagement session. 

Joshua Tree is diverse in it’s landscape, so there are tons of different backdrops we can shoot, all while being at one location. You have (of course), the Joshua Trees, which can only be found in the Southwest. While I definitely love capturing photos of the couple with the Joshua Trees, there are also multiple rock formations, and gorgeous mountains.

 It’s so easy to see why Joshua Tree is one of my very favorite Southern California engagement locations. 

Crystal Cove, Laguna Beach

Okay, I get it. Maybe you’re more of a beach person than a desert person. I haven’t forgotten about you. Crystal Cove, Laguna Beach, has some of the most beautiful beaches and lots of that southern California goodness to soak up! 

This is one of my favorite places, not just to shoot, but to spend time. Crystal Cove, Laguna Beach embodies Southern California beaches. Plus, it’s incredibly romantic to walk with your boo on the beach. How can you possibly go wrong with some beach vibes? 

Sunset Cliffs

Are you looking for that spot with the perfect view of the sunset? I got you! Sunset Cliffs is that spot. There’s 3 miles of cliffs running from Ocean Beach Pier to the very tip of Point Loma. 

Sunset Cliffs boasts the best panoramic sunset view, and is a favorite spot for surfers. And it’s not just great for engagement photos, but it could be a spot to hold your wedding. I love the dramatic cliffs that are so intricately carved and make for the perfect lookout spots. 

I’d suggest we arrive here a bit before sunset. In addition to the beautiful cliffs, there are also a few caves to explore and use in your photos. 

Lake Cuyamaca

So far I’ve given you stunning desert and beach locations, but if you’re in for forest and lake views, Lake Cuyamaca is an incredible option. Lake Cuyamaca is located in eastern San Diego, and it made my list for good reason! 

Who wouldn’t want forest and mountain backdrops with a gorgeous lake to top it all off? It’s my top suggestion to any couple that wants to embody those forest vibes. Here, we have some diversity. We can shoot near the lake, as well as more in the forest and mountains. 

Mission Trails

I’ve included something for everyone in this list of my favorite southern California engagement locations. Mission Trails is great if you’re going for simplicity, but also romance. Mission Tails is a spot that has a huge open field with mountain views. 

You know you love those field photo shoots, and so do I! I personally think Mission Trails is the way to go if you’re wanting to go with a field shoot. I’d suggest bringing a blanket, and making your engagement shoot a cute picnic styled shoot. I mean, how perfect would that be?

Windandsea Beach

Searching for those pure southern California vibes? Windandsea Beach is a favorite spot for surfers because of the beautiful waves that accompany this beach. Which is also exactly why it’s on my list! Can you just imagine those waves in the background of your engagement photos? 

Aside from some beautiful waves, Windandsea Beach has some nice tide pools and small cliffs. You won’t be disappointed with this classic California background. 

Glamis Sand Dunes

These epic sand dunes make for the coolest engagement photos! The Glamis Sand Dunes are located near the Arizona border, in the southeast portion of California. This is the biggest area for sand dunes in the state. You’ll find rolling sand dunes as far as the eye can see! 

I love this location because of its beauty, but also because the backdrop really focuses on the couple. We’ll also have tons of fun shooting here, think of it like a gigantic sandbox! 

Palm Springs Windmills

I knew when writing this list, it would have to have it all, so I’ve even included some windmills for you! The Palm Springs Windmills is a very unique location. It’s a desert scene, with windmills in the background. 

I love this spot, because it’s one-of-a-kind. If you choose to have your engagement photos taken at sunset, we’ll get some nice silhouettes of the windmills. 

Ready to visit one of my favorite Southern California engagement locations?

I know, I know, it’s going to be really hard to choose between all of those bomb options! If you need help figuring out where the best location would be for you as a couple, or you’re ready to book those engagement photos, you can contact me here.